Chain connection



Nov. 29, 1927. 1,650,552

1 v. E. EROVOST CHAIN CONNECTION Filed March 26, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .Zrzuerzi'or Nov. 29, 1927.

' V. E. PROVOST CHAIN CONNECTION Filed March 26. 19?.7

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 29, 1927.

V. E. PROVOST CHAIN CONNECTION Filed March 26, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 twill/IA fizvenior Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

"UNITE-D 'sm ns *e- TYE T 1 er VIRGILE rno'vosm, on oonon's, new YORK.

, *TGHAI'N connection.

Application eantime, 1 927. serialno. 178,717.

This invention reletesfto chem-connections for chains of the type "einployedfupon "the Wheels of'in'otor vehicles, and mom artieu- Iarly relates to "an improvement "upon the construction disclosed 'in my Patent No. 1,550,454 granted August 18,1925, L

i-Ln object of the invention is to jprovide a device which may be "economically inanufectured'zin'd readily appliedto endf'removed from s n heel Withoutth'e use "of tools.

A fuither object of the invention 'is to pro- Wide :1 construction which is very "rugged and hence Will stand 'up'under severe usage.

The above-and other objects of the irhfen tion will 'locoine elem-eras the description lpioeeeds in connection with the preferred L mboClifiili drawings, tvhereln Fig. l 'isnn elevation View showing two of "the devices ap lied to the longitudinal c huin, sndfeeoh having "associated therewith .a oross'chain. 1

ig. 2 is e see'tionali iew on the 'line2e2 in Fig. 1. t Fig. 3 is a ,perspeetive View *showingfthe initial steps in connecting the end linkfof a" Cross chain 'to "the "hooks of the conneton.

Fig. 4 is View similar to Fig, 3ShOW1I1g the last step in connecting the link of the cross chain with the-c onneet-or.

Fig. 5 is anele'vanonal new showlng the construction of one of the menib'e'rsof the Fig. "615 an elevational "vleiy showing the const'ri'iotion of the other member ofthe device Fi 9 is elevational view of the other ine' nbe'r of the connector.

'inenns for yieldin -1 maintaining the hook member fiatly superimposed.

Fig. 111$ a sectional View on "the line li-11 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 12 a, View siinihir' to Fig. 11 show-,

ingthe separated position ofthe members.

' Fig. lgis asectional View on the line 1s '13 of Fig. '11.

Referring to the drawings fora more detailed description, 1, 1?, end 1", a-rel inks of a,

tudinal chain, 'dis'clos'ed in the acco panyin formed with only three "Fig. 7 is an elevation'al iew showings plurality of connector device's of modified longitudinal or cirournferenti'sil 'ohain' such 'QF'aLnd 2 p i It will he understood thatinthe preferred use of theinvention, two side chains are einflployed connected at'defsi'red intervals hythe cross chains as is ell understood in the art.

The present invention relates tothe-mann'er of connecting a cross Chain With a longi tudinal or circumferential chain.

As'anieans for connecting the end link,'-2, of the cross chain with a link, 1, of the longiin hooks, 5 and16, adapted to coincidentally engage the end link, 2, of the-cross chain, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The members, and .4, are preferably made of sheet-ineta lendone is flatly superimposed upon the other, the bodies of the two links being pivotally connected together on ,an axis parallel with theflongitudinal chain.

one member, in the present instance, the member 4, adapted to fit into a. sooketor,

seat 8, formed on the other member.

The socket 8, infthe present instence, is s1des, nan1ely, 'the I I employ a pair of members, 3 land 4, terminating at one end IGSPGCUVBlY The connecti n at the members oriif s,

longitudinal side, 8, cooperating with the inner face 7 of the shoulder portion, and theside faces 8, disposed at a right angle to the face 8 and serving to ,prevent lateral movement of the members or links relative .to one another. a V

It should he observedthatthe faces, 75,8

are bevelled or inclined (Fig. 2), sothat pull upon the hook ends whenftransinitted to fthe inclined feces will canse the latter to p I p vvthrow the projecting shoulder, 7, into its 10 is a perspective [of the spring socket.

The interengagement of the two members i or linksendthe normally flat superiinposi ,tion of the hooks, oneupon the other, as i1- lustratedin Figs. 1 and'2, maybe 'yieldingly maintained in any suitable manner, but preferehly by means of a substantiallyUshaped spring clip, 10,Wh'ich is "fitted upon the ends of the members, and is preferably secured to the fiat member, 3, as by a rivet, 9.

'lhe;:hook, 5, is formed with an opening,

11 on one side, and the hook 6 is formed with a similar opening 12, on its opposite'side.

In order to reinforce the hook at its weakest point, the margin or edge, 13, of the hook, 5, and the margin or edge, 14, of the hook, 6, are inclined so as to provide a substantial width at the closed side of the hook.

The arrangement of the openings is thus such that -each of the links or members crosses the opening of the hook on the other link when the two hooks are coincident with their flat faces superimposed as shown in the drawings.

To facilitate connection of the device to the longitudinal chain the member, 4, is provided with wing-portions, 15, to receive the links, 1', 1, etc., of the longitudinal chain.

In operating the device, when it isdesired' to connect a cross chain with a longitudinal chain, the link, 4, is, swung away from the link. 3, crosswise of the longitudinal chain until the opening, 11, in the hook. 5, of the link, 3, is free for the insertion of the end link, 2, of the cross chain which is then inserted through said opening into the hook.

5, and slid along said hook from the dotted position (Fig. 3) to the position shown in solidlines (Fig. 4). I

The link, 4, is then swung back to normal position in which-its hook portion. 6. coincide s, with the hookportion, 5, of the link, 3,

l' except that the openings in the two hooks face in opposite direction. In this position the end link, 2, of the crossv chain is passed through the opening,'2, into "the hook,6, thus being coincidentally en-.

ga'gedby'both hooks, 5 and 6, as shown fin1, 1 In dlsconnecting a cross chain the above described operation is reversed; the end link, 2, of the cross chain is brought into the opening, 12, of the hook. 6, of the link, 4, as shownvin Fig. 4; the link, 4, is then swung away from the link, 3, to the position shown in Fig. 3, freeing its hook. (i, from said end link, 2. as shown in Fig. 3: the end link, 2, isthen slid along the hook. 5. of the link, 3. from the position shown bv solid lines,

QFig. 4, to thatindicated by dottedlines in .Referring to Figs.

Fig.3, and is then drawn out through the opening, 11, in thehook, 5.

7 to .12 inclusive, where- Q there is shown a modified and preferred embodiment of the invention, 2, 2'. and 2", lndicate the end links of a cross chain, which are engaged with the connector device inserted in the longitudinal chain, two of which areemployed oneach wheel as will be understood. The longitudinal chain consists of a plurality of the connector devices which are connected with the longitudinal chain by means of relatively long links 17 except at the free ends or connecting point of the lon- I gitudinal chain where instead of the long link 17, a plurality of short links 18 are employed for detachable engagement with a means upon one of the connector devices whereby the size of the longitudinal chain may be varied as will be understood by selectively connecting different short links 18 therewith.

Each of the connector devices of this form comprises a relatively flat member 19 having a hook 20. Associated with this member is a second member 21 having a hook 22 disposed oppositely with respect to the hook and flatly superimposable on the latter. The member 19 is provided with an end socket 23 having an inclined face 24, corresponding to the face 7 of the previously described construction and end walls 25 disposed at a right angle thereto. This socket serves to receive a projecting lug 26 upon the member 21, the lug forming an inclined shoulder portion 27 cooperating with the inclined face 24 so that during longitudinal strain upon the members in opposite directions the inclined faces will tend to urge the member 19 against the face of the mem ber 20. A spring clip 28, receiving the ends of the members, serves as resilient means for yieldingly maintaining the hooks flatly superimposed and a pin 30 projects through both members 19, 21, as well as the clip for the purpose of anchoring the clip to the member 21, and also to limit the movement of the two members apart when the connector 1s bemg engaged and disengaged with the end linkof a cross chain.

As is shown clearly in Figures 11 and 12, the pinis providedjwith a reduced portion 30 which snugly fits through the opening 21' in the member 21, and an opening 22 in the spring clip, and by means of a head 31 is fixedly secured both to the spring clip and the member 21. The opposite end of the pin projects through the relatively flat member 19 whichhas an elongated opening 32 therein to permit the hook 22 to move freely upon the pin toward-and from the hook 20, the clip being formed with an opening 34, which also permits free movement of this portion of the clip relative to the pin. A head 35 upon the pin serves to limit the separation of the members and the tensioning of the spring clip; thus there is provided a rigid stop to prevent such distortion of the spring clip as would'causc loss of its resiliency or breakage. It will be observed that the pin thus serves as a means for anchoring or securing the clip to the member 19, and has a stop to limit the separation of the members during connection and disconnection of the device with the cross chain and to limit also the distortion of the spring during separation of the members.

As will be observed from Figure 7, when the device is to be usedfor connecting the ends of the longitudinal chain in addition to connecting the latter with a cross chain,

Nil)

' which are twisted to provide an enlarged *and the adjacentconnector emsogesz a portion of the shank of the member 19, instead of being provided with the 'usual "openings "36 "in both of the lateral pro'j ecting shoulders 37 may j-at on'e =-side be 'tt'orniled so as *to he rea'dily *engageable =and disengageable with an end of the longitudinal chain. As illustrated in Fig, T7, the longitudinal chain imay have the relatively short links 18 *device may have formed thereon 'ffille 'h'oo'k 39 -=integral and rigid with themeniber 19 thereof. a l complementaryhook 39 :is pivoted to the member as-by means of arivetO and opens inv an opposite direction iitrom the book 38 so that when the two hooks are superimposed as shown in :Fig. "7,they-may be coincidentallyengaged selectively With one of the short links '1 8,=the particular "link to be selected depending upon the size 1 to which the longitudinal nhain 'isto be adjusted. It will be understood, of course, that it ordinarily only one of the connectordevices inra singlelongi- "tudinal chain will -be formed with. thisshank connecting means, which is readily engagea'ble with and detachable froni'the free end otthe longitudinalchain.

The operation of this form lot device is substantially the "same as the device illus 'trated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive. and the operation of which is particularly illustrated in "Figs. 3 and 4:.

Referring to allot the several views, it will he observed that the cross chain links are of the usual construction with theeie ception of the end links (Figs. 1 and 7) l'izik'porti'on42 enablingth-e cross chain tobe readily connected-"With and disconnected from the hooks ofthe connector'dev-ice.

While it have shown my invention in connection with a special structure and as operating in a definite manner, it should 'be understood that I do not ilim'it my "invention thereto, except in so far as 'it is limited by the scope of the claims "annexed hereto.

Wi li-at I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I I

1 .1. In a chain-connection and "in combination, 'two members of metal having hooks flatly superimposable one upon "the other opening in opposite directions. and 'beingco- "incidentally engageable withthe same link of .a cross chain, said members fbeing interengaged at the shanks of said hooks, and

relatively movable "for engagement 1 and disengagement ofthe' link ofa cross chain about an axis extending transversely of the chain, said *interengagement being effected by means of an integral projection on'one member, and a socket on the other member receiving said element, said last mentioned "member being substantially flat.

2. In "a chain-connection and in combina tion, two members of metal having "hooks flatly superimposabler one upon the other ingthe shanks of said opening in opposite directions and being "coincidentally engageable with the same link of a "cross chain, said members being interengaged at the shanks of said hooks and relatively movable for engagement and disengagement Off the link of a cross chain "about an axis extending transversely of the chain, said interengagemcnt being effected by means of an integral shoulder on one unemberyand a socket on the other member receiving said shoulder, said last mentioned member being flat, and a substantially U- shaped spring clip fitting over and receiving the shanks of said members and servingto hold the same in interengagement and the hooks flatly other.

3; In a chain-connection and :in combina- 'tion, two members o-f inetal having h'ooks flatly superimposable one upon the other opening in opposite directions *and being coincidentally engageable with the same link of a cross chain, said members being engaged at the shanks of said hooks andre'l'aitively movable for engagement and disengagement of the link of a cross chain ab'out superimposed one upon the an axis extending transversely of the chain,

g eiiected by means of aprojectingintegralelementonone member, and a socket on the other unember're ceiving said element and servingto hold the two members against *relative "lateral movek said interelm'agement being men't, said second mentioned membenbeing flat, and a spring clip fitting over and receivmembers and serving to hold the same in interengagement and the hooks flatly superimposed one upon the other, said spring clip being fastened to one of said members.

cross chain, but preventing relative lateral movement.

5. In a chain-connection and in combination, two members of met-a l having hooks flatly superimposable one znpon the other opening in opposite directions and being coincidentally engageable with the same link of a cross chain, one of said members havingmeans whereby it is adapted to be connected with a longitudinal chain 'one of said anembers being flat and having an end socket open ,atthe end of the member, and the other of ,said members having an integral portion extending into said socket, said socketand integral portion providing an inter-engageablevhinge connection between said members permitting relative movement therebetween about an axis extending transversely of the cross chain but preventing relative lateral movement.

tion, two members of metal having hooks 6. In a chain-connection and in combinaflatly superimposable one upon the other opening in opposite directions and being coterengaging hinge connection between said tion,

members permitting relative movement therebetween about an axis extending transversely of the cross chain, but preventing relative lateral movement.

7. In a chain-connection and in combinatwo members of metal having hooks flatly superimposable one upon the otheropening in opposite directions and being coincidentally engageable with the same link of a cross chain, one of said members having means whereby it is adapted to be connected with a longitudinal chain, one of said links being flat and having an end socket open at the end of the member, and the other of said members having an integral portion extending into said socket, said socket and integral portion providing an inter-engaging hinge connection between said members permitting relative movement therebetween about an axis extending transversely of the cross chain, and a spring clip fitting over the ends of said members serving yieldably to retain the hooks flatly superimposed and said socket and projecting portion interen gaged.

, ,8. In a chain connection and in combination, two members of metal having hooks flatly superimposable one upon the other opening in opposite, directions and being coincidentally engageable with the same link of a cross chain, one of said members having means whereby it is adapted to be connected with a longitudinal chain, one 0t said members being flat and having a socket, and the other of said members having an integral portion extending into said socket, said socket and integral portion providing an intermembers, permitting relative movement therebetween about an axis extending transversely of the cross chain, and a spring clip fitting over the ends of said members serving yieldably to retain the hooks flatly superimposed and said socket and projecting portion interengaged.

9. In a chain connection and in combination, two members of metal having hooks flatly superimposable one upon the other opening in opposite directions and beingccoincidentally engagcable with the same link of a cross chain, said members being intercngaged at the shanks of said hooks, and relatively movable for engagement and disengagement of the link of a cross chain about an axis extending transversely of the chain. said interengagement being effected by means of an integral projection on one member forming a shoulder inclined toward the face of said member, and a socket on the other member having a similarly inclined face adapted to cooperate with the shoulder to urge the members together under longitudinal strain upon the hooks in opposite directions, said member having the socket being substantially flat.

1.0. In a chain-connection and in combinatiointwo members of metal having hooks flatly superimposable one upon the other opening in opposite directions and being coincidentally engageable with the same link of a cross chain, said members'being interengaged at the shanks of said hooks, and relatively movable for engagement and disengagement of the link of a cross chain about an axis extending transversely of the chain, said interengagement being effected by means of an integral projection on one member forming a shoulder inclined toward the face of said member, and a socket on the other member having a similarly inclined face adapted to cooperate with the shoulder to urge the members together under longitudinal strain upon their books in opposite directions, said member having the socket being fiat and a spring clip fitting over said members retaining the same with the hooks flatly superimposed,

11. In a chain-connection and in combination, two members of metal having hooks flatly superimposable one upon the other opening in opposite directions and being coincidentally engageable with the same link of a cross chain, one of said members having means whereby it is adapted to be connected with a longitudinal chain, means for connecting said members whereby one is movable relative to the other, and resilient means serving yieldably to retain the hooks flatly superimposed one upon the other.

12. In a chain-connection and in combination, two members of metal having hooks flatly superimposable one upon the other opening in opposite directions and being coincidentally engageable with the same link of a cross chain, one of said members having means whereby it is adapted to be connected with a longltudinal chain, means for connecting said members, whereby. we is; movable relative to. the iother,.resihent means positive stop; for, linn ting the relative move-* ment ofsaid members apart,

13. in a chaineconnectionand in combinae tion, two members of metal: having, hooks:

flatly superimposable one upon. the other opening in opposite. directions andbeingco incidentally engageable with the samelink of a cross chain, one of said members having means whereby it is adapted to be cona longitudinalchain, means for connecting said members whereby one is movable relative to the other, and resilient means serving yi'eldably to retain the hooks superimposed one upon the other, and a pin extending through said members and serving as a positivestop to limit their movement apart.

1.4:. In a chain connection and in, combination, two members of metal having hooks flatlysuperimposed' one upon the other opening in opposite directions and being coincidentally engageable with the same link of a cross chain, one of said members having means whereby it' is adapted to be connected with a longitudinal chain, said members being connected whereby one mem ber maybe moved relative to the other and resilient means yieldingly maintaining the hooks flatly superimposed one upon the other, said means for connecting one 01 said members with a longitudinal chain comprising a hook integral with one of said mem hers, and a secondhook opening in the opposite direction. flatly superimposable upon the first mentioned hook and movable relative thereto, said hooks being coincidentally engageable with the same link of a longitudinal chain.

15. A connector element having means detachably connectable selectively with a link, said means comprising a pair of hooks flatly superimposable one upon the other opening n opposite directions and being coincidentally engageable with the same link, one of said hooks being rigid with a member of said connector and the other being movable with respect to the first mentioned hook, said connector comprising meanscfor engaging a link of a cross chain, and said cross chain engaging means comprising two mem bers having hooks flatly superimposable one upon the other opening in-opposite directions and being coincidentally engageable with the same link of the cross chain, said members having connection permitting relative movement therebetween.

16. A connector element having means-de tachably connectable with a link, said means comprising a pair of hooks flatly superimposable one upon the other openingin opposite directions and being coincidentally engageable with-the: same.link,..o11e of said. with apmember of. said hooks being, rigid I connector .andfthe. other" beingmovable with respect to thefirstmentioned hook, said con nector comprisingmeans torengagmg a link,

of a cross chain, and said cross chziinengagingmeans comprlsmg two, members having, hooks. flatly superimposable one uponthe other opening opposite directions andbeing coincidentally engageable with the same link of. thecross: chain, said members having, connection permitting relative move ment t-herebetween and. resilientimeans tor yieldingly maintaining the hooks flatly su-' perimposed one upon the other.

17. A connector element having means detachably connectable selectively with a link, said means comprising a pair of hooks flatly superimposable one upon the other opening in opposite directions and being coincidentally engageable with the same link, one of said hooks being-rigid with a member of said connector and the other being movable with respect to the first mentioned hook, said connector comprising means for engaging a link of a cross chain, andsaid cross chain engaging means comprising two members having hooks flatly superimposable one upon the other opening in opposite directions and be ing coincidentally engageable with the same link of the cross chain, said members hav ing an inter-engaging hinge connection permitting relative movement therebetween, and resilient means for yieldingly maintaining the hooks flatly superimposed'one upon the other, and a positive stop for limiting the separating movement of said members.

18. In a chain-connection and in combination, two members of metal having hooks y supernnposable one upon the other flatl opening in opposite directions, and being coincidentally engageable with the same link of a cross chain, one of said members having means whereby it is adapted to beconnected with a longitudinal chain, a pin projecting through said members, one being movable relative to the pin and the other having the pin rigid therewith, resilient means for yieldingly maintaining the hooks 'flatly superimposed one upon the other, and

a positive stop means for limiting the relative movement of said members and the distortion of said resilient means when they are separated. 19. In a chain-connection and in combination, two members of metal having hooks flatly superimposable one upon the other opening in opposite directions, and being coincidentally engageable with. the same link of a cross chain, one of said members having means wherebyit is adapted to be connected with a longitudinal chain, a pin projecting through said members, one being movable relative to the pin and the other having the pin rigid therewith, resilient meansfor yieldingly maintaining hooks jectiiig through said members, one being 15 flatlysuperimposed one upon the other, and movable relative tov the Fin and the other means for limiting the relative movement of having the pin rigid tierewith, resilient ,said members and the distortion of said remeans for yieldingly maintaining the hooks silient means when they are separated, said flatly superimposed one upon the other, and

meansbeing formed with said pin. means for limiting the relative movement of 20 20. In a chain connection and in combinasa d members and the distortion of said retion, two members of metal having hooks v silient means when they are separated, said .e flatly sugerimposable one upon the other means being formed with said pin, and said opening in opposite directions, andbeing pin pro ecting through said resilient means. coincidentally engageable with the same link In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 25 of a cross chain, one of said members havmy hand.

ing means whereby it is adapted to be connected with a longitudinal chain, a pin pro- VIRGILE E. PROVOST. 

